The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-23

that we wasn't bloated bankers and had
hard diggin' fur grub, He give me this
bag and said could take oil that we
couldn't eat Hain'tit slickS'
"Well, should smile. Here's two jam
tarts'--
"Hold on, Rags; put the solids In first,
er you'll smash the tarts.'
A smile passed over each face as the
waits loaded their bag with the remains
Of the meal.
Ready, Rags
Eyes; let me git my op'ra hat on all
square"
She arranged her headgear to suit her,
and followed Bottles to the door.
Then--all this brightness turned to
clouds, for tall, blue clad form, with
double rows of brass buttons upon the
breast, stood there.
"Come with me, kids said the officer,
taking hold of each by the shoulder.
"You don't mean usg / say, boss,
you've got the wrong party. We hain't
done nuthin, have we, Ragsw
But poor little Rags was crying. The
blue coats had always been the terror of
her life. She had heard terrible stories
about them. Now, she and Bottles are In
the care Of one, and she is ready to drop
in fright.
"What's the racket, bossr' asked Bot
ties. He, too, was troubled; but he must
put on a brave face for the girls sake.
"Lifting purse. Come on"
And this was the end of the poor little
waits grand dinner. On the way to the
station house with an officer.
A curious crowd Of street boys, news
paper vendors, bootblacks and the like
followed the policeman and his two little
prisoners to the station house.
His honor was taking dinner; would not
hold court today, and the two waits were
put into comfortable cell upstairs.
Rags cried herself to sleep, while Bot
ties, hero like, sat by her side upon the
cot and kept cheering her up by telling
her that it would be all right In the
morning.
And down stairs, under lock and key,
the unlucky purse and ring were lying in
the desk drawer.
Next"
The two waits, Bottles and Rags, were
pushed forward until they stood In front
Of the desk before his honor.
"Bless me! what's thiss Little ones,
what are you doing here'" asked the kind
faced judge, beaming down upon the pair,
through set of gold bowed glasses
Bottles knew it was not proper for him
to speak, and Rags could not.
"Offlcer, what is the charge against this
pair" asked the judge Of the policeman
who had made the arrest.
Stealing purse, your honor"
"Ah! that is serious charge"
''But, sir, It ain't"---
''Never mind, my little man; your turn
will come. Let the party who made the
complaint stand forward
A tall man, clad in clerical garments,
with long drawn visage, stepped for
ward The corners of his trap like
mouth were drawn down In a
most solemn expression. He clasped
his hands in front Of him, and turned
his eyes upon tbs little waits, as though
even their presence was unholy to his
cloth. t'n
a"Your namer' uttered the judge.
"Rev. Abraham Clearstarch."
Bottles coun hardly hold In the litter,
which, Notwithstanding the solemnity Of
the occasion, was ready to bubble from
his lips. rs h,
"You area minister, are you not''
The reverend gentlemen bowed. 4
"Mr. Clearstarch you may state your
case in as few words as possible"
eyes, sir. Day before yesterday after
noon, purchased a ring for my daughter
Iput the ring into my purse, and walked
down TO India wharf upon business.
Upon returning to my hotel found that
my purse was gone. Iretraced my steps;
but to no avail; could not find my
purse. Yesterday afternoon at dinner in
the hotel where l was stopping ! saw
the ring upon the finger Of this girl.
1 recognized the ring, and knew
at once that she must know OF the
purse. ] left the dining room, found an
officer and had him make the arrest. The
girl picked my pocket I
"Sure Of that, Mr.. Clearstarch" asked
his honor.
"She must have done so. / certainly
could not have lost it," responded the
reverend gentleman.
"Was the purse and ring found upon
the person Of the culprit'' asked the judge
of the officer
1.-THE ring was upon the girls finger,
the purse in the boys pocket"
Dad case. Now, my little man, tell
your story" g3
''If you please, sir, I'm only a boy,
rough and all that, SIR I swear sum-
times and-maybe you wouldn't believe
me. She'll tell you all bout it. You
zee, she's only little girl what hain't
got no friend in all the world but Bottles
Bottles is me, sir. Rags is her name.
She never swears and-she never picked
his pockets. know that, cause I'm her
father, you see."
Bottles had found his tongue and he de-
uvered the foregoing in straightforward